Content - Volume 47, Issue 10

Objective: The therapeutic effects of intramuscular injections of botulinum toxin-type A on spasticity can largely be explained by its blocking action at the neuromuscular junction. Botulinum toxin-type A is also thought to have a central action on the functional organization of the central nervous system. This study assessed the action of botulinum toxin-type A on spinal motor networks by investi ...

Objective: To systematically review the use of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in people who have survived a stroke. The following questions are addressed: (i) What are the testing procedures used? (ii) What are the patient, safety and outcomes characteristics in the cardiopulmonary exercise testing procedures? (iii) Which criteria are used to determine maximum oxygen uptake (VO2peak/max) in the ...

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of a self-management intervention aimed at proactive coping for stroke patients and partners, compared with an education intervention. Design: Multicentre randomized controlled trial. Participants: The study included 113 stroke patients (mean age 57. 0 years (standard deviation (SD) 9. 0), mean 18. 8 months after stroke (SD 28. 4)) and 57 partners (m ...

Objective: The therapeutic effects of intramuscular injections of botulinum toxin-type A on spasticity can largely be explained by its blocking action at the neuromuscular junction. Botulinum toxin-type A is also thought to have a central action on the functional organization of the central nervous system. This study assessed the action of botulinum toxin-type A on spinal motor networks by investi ...

Objective: To investigate the effect of spasticity and involuntary synergistic activation on force perception during voluntary activation of spastic paretic muscles. Methods: Eleven stroke subjects with spastic hemiparesis performed various isometric elbow-flexion force-matching tasks. Subjects were instructed to generate a target reference force with visual feedback using one arm (impaired or n ...

Objective: To evaluate the safety and tolerability of dalfampridine extended release (D-ER) in participants with chronic post-ischemic stroke deficits, and to assess for potential drug activity on sensorimotor function. Methods: Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design, participants were randomized to placebo/D-ER or D-ER/placebo sequences and given D-ER 10 mg or placebo twice ...

Objective: To investigate the trajectory and predictors of employment over a period of 10 years following traumatic brain injury and traumatic orthopaedic injury. Design: Prospective follow-up at 1, 2, 5 and 10 years post-injury. Participants: Seventy-nine individuals with traumatic brain injury and 79 with traumatic orthopaedic injury recruited from Epworth HealthCare in Melbourne, Australia ...

Objective: To investigate whether the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS), the physical function subscales of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ PF) and the 36-item Short Form (SF-36 PF) can identify subgroups of women with fibromyalgia with clinically relevant differences in ability to perform activities of daily living. Design: Cross-sectional study. Subjects: A total of 25 ...

Objective: To reach multidisciplinary European consensus on the assessment tools for impairments and activity limitations in patients with hand conditions. Design: Electronic Delphi method. Subjects: Thirty experts from European societies for hand therapy, hand surgery, and physical and rehabilitation medicine. Methods: In 3 rounds, participants were asked which of 13 preselected categories ...

Background: Dynamic hyperinflation leads to dyspnoea and consequent limitations in functional capacity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It has been shown that the response to pursed-lips breathing in terms of dynamic hyperinflation and lower-limb exercise capacity is variable, and its effects on activities of daily living are unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pursed-lips ...

Background: Fitness to drive a car has been investigated increasingly over recent years. However, most research has focussed on perioperative driving performance, and few data are available on how orthoses influence the ability to perform an emergency stop. This study investigated the effect of 4 common ankle braces (Kallassy®, CaligaLoc®, Air-Stirrup®, ASO®) on reaction time, foot transfer ti ...

Objective: To determine the Box and Block Test norm in a sub-Saharan population and to compare these data with published norms for North American adults. Methods: A total of 692 healthy Beninese people, age range 20–85 years, were recruited. These subjects were asked to perform the Box and Block Test with both hands. Results: Box and Block Test scores (mean and standard deviation (SD)) for w ...

No abstract available